belmont-tower-resident-guide-2021

Belmont Tower and Flats Dundee Dundee Residents’ Guide Welcome Contents Welcome Arrival day Your space Shared facilities Communal living and pastoral care 12 Personal conduct 14 Useful procedures 16 Keys, safety and security 20 Fire safety 22 Before you leave 24 Hello and welcome to Dundee! Firstly, thank you for choosing Belmont Tower and Flats to call home this year; we want to ensure you get settled in as quickly and easily as possible This booklet should help as it contains everything you need to know about living here You will find answers to many of our frequently asked questions including reporting repairs, communal living advice, personal safety information and – most importantly – how to keep your new home clean and tidy These halls of residence are owned by Dundee Student Villages (DSV), while the University is your landlord and looks after your rent and welfare, the day-today management of these residences is handled by us, Sanctuary Students We are here to help you and we hope your time with us is an enjoyable one We suggest reading your offer of accommodation again as it may have been some time since you agreed to it and provides a full list of your obligations, as well as those of Sanctuary Students and the University It is also available to you on the University’s e-vision system If you have any questions or concerns about the residences during your stay, please get in touch with the on-site team You can this by popping to the office, giving them a call or sending an email T:  300 123 5050 - choose option 1, then option E: enquiries-dundee@sanctuarystudents.com Arrival day You have now arrived and collected your keys With your keys you received a welcome pack which includes maps, your new mailing address and lots of other useful information to help get you started Inventory Now you have checked in, before you start to unpack take some time to fill out the inventory form and aim to have it completed and returned to our on-site team within 48 hours of arrival The inventory lists all the items you should find in your room and shared common areas This is your opportunity to make note of any damaged or missing items, so it’s important you take some time to complete this Note: By not completing the inventory, you may be liable for the cost of repairing or replacing any damaged or missing items when you leave We try to ensure everything’s in good working order ready for when you move in, but unfortunately things break from time to time If you come across any maintenance issues on your arrival, please not list them on your inventory as these may take a few weeks to process Instead pop and see the team at the office, give them a call or send an email T: 0300 123 5050 E: enquiries-dundee@sanctuary-students com Your space Furniture Your room is all set up ready to be filled with all your favourite home comforts, so please not attempt to move any furniture or add any large items of your own Remember to use your inventory to check all items of furniture are in place and in good condition If you find any items are missing or damaged, please get in touch with the office Bedding/linen Bedding packs are available to buy from the Heathfield office while stocks last Posters We want you to make your room feel like home, but please only use the provided pin boards for any posters you would like to display Please not use any fixings that may damage the bedroom or communal walls, including blue or white tack, tape, pins or nails Please ask the office before putting any posters up on notice boards in stairwells or building entrances Note: Any necessary redecoration needed when you leave will be charged to you Smoking Smoking is only permitted outside the building, this includes e-cigarettes Please dispose of cigarette butts appropriately and avoid smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes next to doors so you don’t upset other students TV licence There’s a TV socket in your bedroom and lounge in Belmont flats The socket marked TV/FM is for digital radio and TV If you plan to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer on a television, mobile phone, tablet or laptop, you will need a TV licence Visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk for more information Heating and hot water Hot water is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Our heating runs at certain times: 6am - 10am 12pm - 2pm 5pm - 2am Please contact the office straight away if you have any problems Pets Sorry, we not allow pets to be kept on-site, except guide dogs or hearing dogs This includes goldfish - sorry! Shared facilities Contact Us Located in the Heathfield building, the office is open between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday The on-site team and can be contacted by telephone and email T:  300 123 5050 - choose option 1, then option E: enquiries-dundee@sanctuary-students.com Out of hours, the site is covered by our security team If you need out of hours service, please call us T: 07776 298 696 You can find the emergency telephone numbers on the notice board in the kitchen and stairwell If you would like to contact the Residences office at the University of Dundee, you can give them a call, send an email or visit them in The Enquiry Centre on Campus Green T: 01382 384 040 E: residences@dundee.ac.uk Post Letters and parcels are delivered directly to your flat If a signature is required or the item is too large for the letter box and you’re not home, the Royal Mail or courier will leave a card explaining how you can retrieve your mail When having mail sent to you, please ensure you provide the following details: Your name Your flat and room number Belmont Tower University of Dundee Mount Pleasant Dundee DD1 4HD or Your name Belmont Flats 76 Old Hawkhill Dundee DD1 4HE An Amazon Locker is located under Balfour Flats - select Amazon Hub Locker Franco Belmont Tower Parcels Only Royal Mail have access to Belmont Tower to deliver mail, therefore parcels will be delivered to the Heathfield office, however you must still address them to your Belmont Tower address) We will notify you when there is a parcel for you which needs to be collected from the office Please remember to bring ID with you Internet You can access the University’s Eduroam service in flat kitchens and bedrooms You can also use the StudentResidences network to connect games consoles and streaming devices to the internet In addition each bedroom has a computer point so you can connect to the network and internet using the cable provided: Visit the University’s online IT guides and Help4U self-service answers and search for your query IT guides https://www.dundee.ac.uk/it/guide/ Help4U answers https://help4u.dundee.ac.uk Storage We cannot provide storage facilities on-site, however, if you ask at the office we can advise on local storage facilities We not accept responsibility for any lost, damaged or stolen property Laundry The laundry rooms are located on the East Stair between the ground and first floor in Belmont Tower, the access code is 531 and in the courtyard for Belmont Flats which can be opened with your key fob The laundry room is open 24-hours a day Machines are operated via a Card or the laundry App with charges and instructions displayed within the room If you have any problems with the laundry please contact the laundry company direct using the phone number displayed on the wall posters If you need further help, you can contact the office You can check machine availability by visiting https://www.circuit.co.uk/circuitview/ Select Dundee - Sanctuary Student Housing - Belmont Flats or Tower Please keep the laundry room clean and tidy and remove your laundry as soon as the cycle has finished so the machine is free for others to use Note: We cannot be responsible for any loss or damage to your laundry 9 Shared facilities Bins and recycling Recycling facilities are available on-site and food waste containers and recycling bags are located in each kitchen •G  lass, cardboard, paper, plastic, food waste and aluminum recycling facilities are available on-site •A  rag bag textile recycling container can be found outside the Belmont Flats Laundry •B  atteries can be recycled at the office •T  here is a book library to exchange general reading books 10 Note: Make sure you only recycle clean, dry, grease-free items You will need to empty your bedroom, kitchen, food and recycling bins into the large bins located in the outside refuse areas Please not flush any items other than toilet paper down the toilet Please wrap up razors, condoms and sanitary items and put them in the bin If you require a safe disposal bin for needles and syringes, please contact the office The refuse collection from the bin recess is carried out twice a week on a Tuesday and Friday and recycling is collected once a week on a Friday Food Waste is collected on Wednesday Bikes Bicycle storage is available in the courtyard - please ask at the office for a key and to register your bike Please not keep bikes in your flat or bring them in to the buildings as they may cause damage or block stairwells or emergency exits Don’t forget to buy a lock to secure your bike available for students with disabilities Please contact the University’s car parking administrator for more information: T: 01382 384 000 There is very limited free parking within walking distance Top tip: You should also register your bike with the police; you can this online at www bikeregister.com Local transport Parking Remember to provide your ID when purchasing travel tickets for a discount towards your travel We encourage residents to use public transport or bikes as there is no parking within the grounds of Belmont For more information please visit www.dundeetravelinfo.com Parking on the University campus is available for permit holders only Permits are only 11 Communal living and pastoral care By following these simple codes of conduct you are sure to avoid tension with your flatmates and will also help make your time with us enjoyable Noise Please be mindful of those who are trying to sleep and study and try to avoid doing the following: • Slamming doors • T  alking, shouting or laughing loudly, especially in corridors and communal areas • Loud music and parties • Any loud noise between 11pm and 8am Of course we want you to go out and have fun, but remember noise can be really irritating for someone trying to sleep or study 12 If you are having problems with noise, please contact the office or call our out of hours service Out of hours: 07776 298 696 Food Food theft can have a damaging effect on relationships within your flat In the few days following your arrival, agree between yourselves if you will have any communal food items Remember to ask permission before you borrow anything and check with your flatmates before throwing their food away Try to avoid buying large quantities of food in one go to make sure everyone has enough storage space Looking after yourself Register with a doctor (GP) as soon as you can Information is available from the University at www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/health/register-with-a-gp/ For details of local practices visit www.nhs24 com/FindLocal For minor illnesses you can visit a pharmacist Please ask at the office for details of the nearest hospital The Student Support Adviser and their team of Student Support Assistants are on hand to provide signposting an advice on topics including homesickness, not getting on with your flatmates and financial worries You can contact the Student Support Adviser on: T: 01382 385 534 E: enquiry@dundee.ac.uk Contact details for your Student Support Assistant are displayed on the noticeboard in your kitchen Emergencies and first aid In a medical emergency, call 4141 from the phone in your flat or call 999 from a mobile immediately Information for students with disabilities Sanctuary Students and Disability Services at the University can provide signposting and advice for students who require extra assistance For more information visit www dundee.ac.uk/disabilityservices/students/ Culture shock Leaving home can be stressful, but many people will feel the same – talk to them about how they feel Try to meet new people on your course or in your flat and find out about different social activities at Freshers’ Fairs or the Student Union website Keep in contact with people you are familiar with, have familiar things around you and either talk to us or look in to University support services if you are struggling For international students the UKCISA website has more information on this Environmental care Please help us save energy and water by switching off lights when you aren’t using them, using low temperatures on the washing machine and not leaving taps running Make the most of our recycling facilities too Support and advice Find out about your Student Support Service by visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/ students or www.nightline.ac.uk for confidential advice and support Drug or alcohol concerns? Visit www talktofrank.com – not assume you (or your friends) know all the facts If something is troubling you and you need someone to talk to The Samaritans have a phone helpline, visit www.samaritans.org for more information Parties If you want to hold a party, please request permission from the office at least 48-hours in advance No more than 15 guests are allowed Parties must end before 1am or earlier if requested by our team 13 Personal conduct We want to ensure all our residents live in pleasant, safe and secure surroundings • Smoking inside • Threatening or abusive behaviour We want all our residents to enjoy their time here with us, so check your occupancy agreement where you will find terms and conditions which should help Remember to be respectful when interacting with fellow residents and staff The Residences Discipline Policy is in the folder in your flat Please refer to your Occupancy Agreement Code of Conduct for further information If your behaviour is deemed unacceptable, you may jeopardise your occupancy agreement It’s important you’re aware of behaviour that breaches your occupancy agreement It includes but is not limited to: • Illegal drug use • Drinking alcohol in public areas of the accommodation without permission 14 If you’re aware of any misconduct please report this to the on-site team You can also contact the police as a last resort We reserve the right to confiscate any items that are not permitted or we deem hazardous Any confiscated property will be logged, stored safely and returned on your departure from the residence Cleaning No cleaning service is provided in your flat Please take responsibility for keeping your flat clean and tidy , including your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom facilities and communal areas Please take responsibility for your own washing up and put things away Three times a year we will inspect your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom facilities You will receive a minimum of 48 hours notice If the level of cleanliness is unacceptable, you will receive a written warning and we will instruct cleaners to clean your flat and you and your flatmates will be responsible for covering the cost Top tip: Draw up a cleaning rota early on so everyone knows their responsibilities and your flat remains a pleasant and hygienic place to be You will find a blank one of the kitchen pin board The communal areas of your block will be cleaned between 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday by our in-house team Please also keep outdoor areas clean and tidy and take any rubbish with you Kitchen cleaning tips • W  ipe the hob after each use and clean with hob cleaner weekly • Use soapy water to clean kitchen wall tiles, then wipe down • Cover food before microwaving and wipe inside and outside regularly • Throw away gone off food and wipe doors and shelves with a cloth – keep the fridge/freezer dial on the middle number to avoid ice build up • W  ipe the worktop after each use and clean with hot soapy water weekly • Don’t leave rubbish lying around, empty the bin regularly and use a bin bag • Clean up any spillages straight away to avoid stains • Use the vacuum cleaner which is provided 15 Useful procedures Reporting repairs Please take responsibility for reporting repairs or breakages, please not leave it for others to Our on-site maintenance team look after the day-to-day repairs and our trusted contractors cover major repairs Report any repairs to the office, give us a call or send an email T: 01382 383 111 E: enquiries-dundee@sanctuary-students com Note: For out of hours emergency repairs you can call 07776 298 696 Regular emails will keep you up-to-date on a repairs progress, but please be patient as things may take some time Please ask at the office for repair timescales Repairs can be 16 reported to us 24-hours a day by phone Information on routine maintenance in your flat is displayed on the noticeboard on the ground floor and you will also receive notification by email at least 48 hours in advance Please note that we may require access to a flat without prior notice if there are urgent issues or concerns regarding health and safety or maintenance Please ask tradesmen for ID before allowing them in HMO licence These buildings are regulated according to the Scottish Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) legislation which ensures a high safety and management standard As part of this, the flats are regularly inspected by the local authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to make sure we are meeting this standard You can find the HMO license for Belmont in the Heathfield office, or by visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/accommodation/ importantinformation/ The web page above also provides links to information on our own buildings and liability insurance, HMO License conditions and safety reports Access to flats We’ll need to enter your room and flat during your stay with us to keep your flat comfy and keep you safe and secure Access to your flat will usually be restricted to normal working hours except in exceptional circumstances Out of hours, we will only enter your flat or bedroom if we believe that there is a risk to students, security or the good order of the building Repairs We’ll need to enter your flat and occasionally your room to fix any faults that have been reported Flat inspections We’ll pop into your flat once a term to check that your flat is just as it should be Improvement surveys Our trusted team of builders and surveyors may enter your flat to see what work we may need to during the summer to look at ways to keep our accommodation fresh Safety tests There are lots of different elements that go into providing your student home and we need to make sure everything is working as it should Paying your rent Please refer to your Occupancy Agreement or contact the Residences Office to find out when your rent installments are due Please contact Student Support early on if you have any financial concerns Damages Please note any damages caused by misuse will be charged to the students responsible Damage to communal areas will be split between you and your flatmates (or all students living on a floor or in a block where appropriate) unless the person responsible comes forward Please ask for indicative prices, you won’t be charged for damages resulting in fair wear and tear 17 Useful procedures Visitors and guests Please feel free to bring your friends and family over You may have one guest who can stay for a maximum of two nights in a calendar month, however under 18’s cannot stay overnight Lending of rooms (subletting) or keys is strictly prohibited Please complete an overnight guest form which is available from the office By not telling us about guests you may risk losing your tenancy You are responsible for all guests and must accompany them at all times while on-site If your guest is disturbing other students, they may be asked to leave Moving rooms If you wish to change rooms you should contact the Residences Office at the University, who will deal with your request 18 Complaints We always our best to provide an outstanding service, however we recognise that sometimes things can go wrong Please contact the office and we will try to reach a solution If this doesn’t work, we have a formal complaints procedure that you can follow Equality and diversity We promote equality, diversity and human rights through our Fairness for All policy Please get in touch to ask for a copy make sure we give you the best possible experience Our privacy statements explain why we collect your data, what we with it, how we store and share it We collect different sets of data at different stages of your relationship with us, meaning we have a privacy statement for each stage Read our privacy statements to find out more at www.sanctuary-students com/privacystatements Confidentiality and privacy statements Here at Sanctuary Students, we take your data privacy seriously We gather your data when you fill in a form on our website, send us an email, give us a call or live in one of our student properties to 19 Keys, safety and security Keys Belmont Flats: You have been given a fob to access the building and the laundry room and three keys, one for your flat, one for your room and one for your kitchen cupboard Belmont Tower: You will receive one key which opens the building front door, flat and your room If you lose your keys or fob please contact the office straight away so we can replace them for you, there is a charge to cover the replacement and change of locks if required Look after your keys, keep them with you at all times and never attach your address to them If a member of staff sees a door unlocked, they will lock it 20 Security Don’t let anyone through the doors or allow someone to follow you in who you don’t know, please not lend your keys to anyone Always lock doors and windows when you go out and at night Please not tamper with window restrictors and use the safety catch where available Sanctuary Students cannot be responsible for the loss, damage or theft of your possessions If you have a laptop or other expensive, portable equipment, make sure it is kept hidden and secure Money and valuables should never be left unattended in public areas Top tip: Name your belongings so they can be identified by the police if they are lost or stolen If you see anything suspicious, please report it to the office We have 24 hour CCTV monitoring systems in place Insurance The University provides basic contents insurance Please read the policy of the insurance provider carefully Many of your personal possessions will be covered in certain circumstances such as theft, but others may only be covered up to a certain value so check and upgrade your policy where needed Alternatively you can take out your own insurance with a provider of your choice Carrying cash If you’re travelling from overseas with large amounts of cash, please deposit this in a bank as soon as you can as we are unable to provide safes or lockers for your room Personal safety Be mindful at all times Plan your journeys in advance and let your friends know where you’re going Avoid poorly lit and remote areas at night and keep valuables hidden Program any security numbers or emergency contacts into your phone so you have them with you at all times Top tip: Have a written copy too in case your phone gets stolen Absences If you are going to be away for more than one night, please let your flatmates know and leave a contact number with us if you are going to be away for more than a week Accidents If you have an accident on-site or notice anything dangerous or unsafe, please let us know straight away If you have an accident, we may ask you to complete an accident report form Electrical safety User instructions for all electrical appliances supplied by Sanctuary Students can be found in the folder located in the kitchen of your flat Don’t put yourself or your flatmates at risk and ensure your electrical equipment is safe to use You will be responsible for accidents resulting from faulty equipment or equipment that falls short of European or British safety standards Check for visible signs of damage before using electronic equipment, if in doubt not use it and use a label to inform others not to use it either Inform the owner or contact the office if it’s equipment supplied by us When using electronic equipment: 1) Always follows the manufacturer’s instructions 2) Don’t overload electrical sockets 3) Do not leave switched on electrical items unattended 4) Don’t use makeshift wiring – if it’s faulty, replace it 5) Disconnect equipment not being used 6) Switch off and disconnect faulty equipment immediately 7) Don’t run cables under carpet or rugs and don’t put flammable materials on or near electrical equipment We reserve the right to confiscate nonpermitted items or anything deemed hazardous which can be collected upon your departure from the residence Fire safety Fire safety The Fire Emergency Plan can be found in the folder in your flat Your building, flat and bedroom are protected by a fire and smoke alarm system; however you must observe the following guidelines to reduce the risk of fires happening 1) N  ever burn candles, oil burners, tea lights, joss sticks or anything with a naked flame or exposed heat source – these are dangerous and banned from the accommodation 2) D  o not cover your room heater at any time 3) Don’t cook using dirty grill pans or hob 4) D  on’t put anything metallic in the microwave 5) T  ake extra care when cooking after a night out 6) Don’t prop fire doors open 7) N  o portable or personal heaters allowed – including electric blankets 8) C  hip pans, deep fat fryers, barbecues, gas appliances and plug in air fresheners are a fire hazard and banned from the accommodation Note: Any banned or unsafe items may be removed without warning 22 Fire drills Fire alarms are tested every Monday Fire drills are a legal requirement and are held at least twice a year On hearing the alarm you must evacuate the building immediately Familiarise yourself with the fire action notices, evacuation routes and assembly point On discovering a fire: 1) Sound the alarm 2) Get out of the building 3) Call the fire brigade on 999 4) Let a member of our team know On hearing the alarm: 1) Get out of the building 2) Close doors behind you 3) Don’t use lifts 4) Don’t rush or push 5) M  eet at the assembly point (identified on the notice on your bedroom door) 6) D  o not attempt to re-enter the building until a fire officer or member of our team say it is safe to so Fire extinguishers and fire blankets are located throughout the building and exist for safety Misusing fire-fighting equipment will seriously jeopardise your occupancy agreement as well as the lives of you and your neighbours Penalties against you or you and your flatmates may be incurred if safety equipment is interfered with and may lead to criminal prosecution If you find any fire-fighting equipment missing or damaged, please let the office know so it can be replaced or repaired Avoid false alarms! To avoid unnecessary fire service call outs and evacuations: • D  on’t tamper with detectors – this may activate the alarm • E  nsure the ventilation fan is running and the bathroom door is closed during and immediately after showering • U  se a steam iron, aerosols, hair dryers and straighteners away from detector heads • W  hen cooking ensure extractor fans are running, windows are open and the kitchen door is closed • R  eport any broken ventilation or extractor fans immediately The detectors in the flat are connected to the fire alarm system Do not tamper with detectors or cover them – they could save your life 23 Before you leave Moving out Please hand your keys back before 10am on the last day of your occupancy agreement We’ll send details at least weeks before you’re due to move out If you want to leave the accommodation before the date on your agreement, please contact Residences Office who will advise you of the process Before you leave us please: • Remove all personal goods and furniture We will remove and/or dispose of anything left behind • Clean and vacuum your room, communal areas, kitchen including kitchen cupboards 24 and empty all rubbish • Wipe and dust all surfaces • Close all windows • Lock your bedroom door • Return keys and fobs to the office in person • Refer your occupancy agreement for contractual obligations u D ndee Remember to pass your new address to contacts as we are unable to forward mail After your departure, we will return any items to the sender 26 27 Office address: Sanctuary Office, 75 Old Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5EN Visit: www.sanctuary-students.com Call: 0300 123 5050 Email: enquiries-dundee@sanctuary-students.com Our office is open: Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm SanctuaryStudentsUK Sanctuary Students is a trading name used by Sanctuary Student Homes Limited and Sanctuary Management Services Limited Some images in this booklet are representative only